I like bread.
I like ahijo too.
So what happens when the two meet?
The answer is simple.
The bread never stops.
This time I visited “Pantrie” in Koshigaya Lake Town.
It's one of KAZUKIN's favorite places.
And on this day, the seasonal “Autumn Ahijo Fair” was underway.
There was nothing to do but order it.
Ahijo needs a baguette
To begin with, ahijo has a slightly troublesome problem.
Whenever I order ahijo at a pasta place, I always end up wanting a baguette.
That olive oil, soaked with the aroma of garlic.
I just can't leave it behind.
But the world isn't that kind.
The baguette usually costs extra.
Should I order more?
No, is it worth going that far?
A small inner conflict arises.
At Pantrie, though, things are different.
The base of the menu is all-you-can-eat bread.
So what does that mean?
Bread to soak up the ahijo oil is, in effect, supplied without limit.
How wonderful.
Isn't this a revolution in the world of ahijo?
Delicious. Way too delicious.
Dunk the bread into the piping-hot ahijo.
The olive oil slowly soaks in.
Then, a bite.
Delicious.
Way too delicious.
The aroma of garlic, the savoriness of olive oil, the toastiness of the bread.
The three join hands beautifully.
Pure bliss.
Normally, even at all-you-can-eat bread, I can't actually eat that much.
Bread is surprisingly filling.
But eaten with ahijo, it's another story.
The bread goes down strangely fast.
One more.
No, just one more.
And then, one more.
Before I knew it, I was standing up to fetch more bread.
No rice needed.
Today is not rice's day.
As a Japanese person I have mixed feelings, but let's gracefully hand the lead role to bread.
The view is not to be underestimated
Pantrie's charm isn't just the bread.
At the back of the restaurant there are open, airy seats with big windows.
They're pretty good.
You can eat slowly while looking at the view outside.
I especially recommend the window seats at the back.
Among them, the two seats at the back right have a bit of extra room on the window side.
That's welcome with small children or lots of luggage.
Strollers, shopping bags—Lake Town is a place where luggage tends to pile up.
This extra space is a modest but big plus.
But if the window seats are taken, there's no need to be discouraged.
The seats toward the front have their own merits.
They're close to the bread and the drink bar.
The view, or access to bread?
It's no exaggeration to call this a microcosm of life's choices.
...OK, that is an exaggeration.
Meeting fresh-baked bread is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter
At Pantrie you can enjoy a variety of breads.
And fresh from the oven is, of course, special.
But one thing to note.
When will your favorite bread come out of the oven?
That's basically up to luck.
If the bread you want arrives fresh, that's a jackpot.
On the other hand, your favorite bread may come out just as you're about to head home.
At those moments, a person is tested.
I'm already full.
But right in front of me is fresh bread.
What will you do, KAZUKIN?
Eat it, or go home?
The answer is usually decided.
Conclusion: Pantrie is great value
All-you-can-eat bread.
Ahijo.
Airy window seats.
And chance meetings with fresh-baked bread.
With this much to enjoy, it's no wonder KAZUKIN likes the place.
Above all, all-you-can-eat bread and ahijo go wonderfully together.
A modest yet truly big happiness: enjoying the olive oil to the very last drop.
That's right.
It's great value.
But please remember one thing.
Just because the bread is all-you-can-eat doesn't mean your stomach becomes infinite.
That part, nothing can be done about.
パンは無限。胃袋は有限。人生とは、そういうものだ。
KAZUKIN Rating
- 🍞 Ahijo–bread pairing — ★★★★★ (finished the oil too)
- 🪟 Openness of the window seats — ★★★★★ (the view is part of the meal)
- 🥖 Luck with fresh bread — ★★★☆☆ (pure luck)
- 🍚 Rice's time to shine — ★☆☆☆☆ (lost its reason to exist)
- 🥟 Stomach infinity — ★☆☆☆☆ (finite)
This article is a personal opinion and record. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with Pantrie or Koshigaya Lake Town. I'm just a bread-loving customer. Fair details, menus and business information are as of writing and may have changed. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The image is a composite based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from the real store and dishes. It is not an official photo or advertisement.